Date:04/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070416780400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Fashion institute students showcase their collections

Staff Reporter

Creations covered from Indian classical to Western music and fusion

EYE-CATCHERS: Models displaying the collections created by students of the J.D. Institute of Fashion Technology at `Mix Masters, the J.D. Annual Design Excellence Awards 2005' in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: Murali Kumar K.

BANGALORE: "Mix Masters, the J.D. Annual Design Excellence Awards 2005", kicked off here on Sunday with a trendy fashion show by professional models and graduating students of the J.D. Institute of Fashion Technology.

The design collections created by the students covered different genres of music from Indian classical to Western and fusion.

Darshini Padvi's "Psychedelia" collection was inspired by Psychedelic rock music and Usha Mohandas' collection "Yesterday once more" by Retro music.

The collection called "Elation" designed by Rohini D'Cruz had model Rashmi and others sashay to the beats of Merengue, the Latin American music.

Mathew Ambat, design student, had chosen opera music for his collection, "Desolate Vibrations."

The collection was a combination of vintage elements in contemporary silhouettes.

Textures and prints were key elements of this men's collection.

Designer Shweta Chauhan's collection, "Chunari," was inspired by Navratri-dandiya.

She had used embroidery and glass work to the fullest extent. Different forms of raga were the inspiration for Swayam Prabha's collection, "Lopviram."

She chose the complementing ragas of colour, passion, joy and happiness to depict her Indo-Western collection.

Sri Lankan music filled the hall as designer Shehan Shameem came out with his collection, "Sriusion."

Shameem did his little research to understand the essentials of Sri Lankan music for his collection.

"The Mahavasam states that when culture hero Vijeya landed in Sri Lanka in 543 BC, the first sounds he heard were of music and dancing from a wedding ceremony. Dance is still of paramount importance in Sinhalese arts," he said.

Payal Singhal's collection, "Fantasy," had romantic music for inspiration.

She had her reason for the choice: "To me it is music that takes us to uncommon heights, lifting our hearts and making us fly. Romance is like a pair of wings. It teaches us how to share love without any restraints."

Hip-hop it was for Sachi Agarwal, as she unfurled her "Funk Phenomena" collection with verve.

With foot-tapping music, the models gave life to a music that originated in the 1960s as part of the culture of African-Americans from the streets of New York.

The collection, "Fraicheur de la lumiere," was inspired by reggae/rap music.

"The limitless possibilities of breaking rules" that was how the designer Ceni Venugopalan described her choice.

She had used polyester, nylon, net, mirror and corduroy padded with sponge for her dress material.

Jackie Shetty, model, made a mark with her robotic movements for the collection, "FUTReT," designed by Puja Daga. Electronic music was Daga's inspiration for the dresses created out of rib knit, acrylic, rubber and electronic gadgets.